Results for "www.slashgear.com/tags/skype"

Microsoft has announced a new Skype for Business technical preview available for Office 365 enterprise users. The preview ushers in a trio of new features, two of which are limited to customers located in the United States. The new Skype Meeting Broadcast is perhaps the most notable change for enterprise users, allowing customers worldwide to broadcast a meeting taking place over Skype for Business to up to 10,000 users across multiple devices.

Skype just became easier to access, around the world. As an alternative to downloading the Skype app or program, users can turn to their browsers for their communication needs using Skype for Web (beta). The web version isn't just for checking instant messages. It's designed to provide the same video and phone calls associated with the full app. As we noted when the beta first launched stateside, users will still have to install a plug-in before initially using the site, but that seems to be only a small hurdle.

Microsoft-owned Skype has announced today that it will be merging its two Windows apps into a single offering by retiring the touch-based, Modern UI version, and instead moving forward with the traditional desktop app. The touch-friendly Skype app was made for Windows 8 devices, while Windows 7 and Windows 8 PCs have always continued to use the desktop app. In anticipation of the debut of Windows 10, the modern Skype app will no longer work beginning July 7th, and users will need to switch to the desktop version.

Skype's impressive real-time translation tool has been limited to invite-only, and preview builds for the last six months or so, but it seems that's all about to change. Skype has just announced that it will begin integrating the Skype Translator software directly into its desktop app for Windows before the end of this summer. With Windows 10 recently revealed to be available on July 29th, it wouldn't be surprising to see Microsoft touting the new Skype overhaul as a new feature available on the OS.

Skype for Web, the browser-based version of the popular voice and video messaging service, has rolled out across the US and UK. Revealed in beta at the tail-end of last year, the web app can effectively replace the standalone Skype client, delivering the same video, audio, and IM communications only through the browser. It could be useful, Microsoft says, for those using public computers while traveling, or when you're on a different machine and haven't the time (or the inclination, frankly) to install the full software.

iPhone users need not feel alone anymore. A new bug affecting Skype was just discovered that also crashed the app once a specific string has been received. And no, it isn't even something as exotic as a string of Unicode characters. A very simple "http://:" message, without the quotes, is enough to bring down the Skype app on multiple platforms, including desktops. What's worse, however, is that once that happens, the app crashes repeatedly even when just starting it, rendering the app utterly unusable until a fix is issued.

Trademarks and patents are strange beasts. Something you've been holding on to for years in one country might suddenly be declared not yours in another place and another time. That is somewhat the case that Microsoft is facing when judges at the General Court of the European Union declared that Redmond can't apply for a trademark for Skype and its logo that will apply to the whole EU region. This is because, according to the judges, there is potential for confusion with the UK broadcasting company known simply as "Sky".

Over the weekend, a strong earthquake struck Nepal with tragic consequences. The death toll continues to rise, with counts currently reported around 4000. Now is a crucial time for relief efforts as the golden window of time to rescue survivors elapses. In response, tech companies are springing into action, offering whatever services they can to help the relief effort. Microsoft is doing its part to provide relief by immediately making Skype calls for mobiles and landlines both to and from Nepal completely free of charge.

Skype is officially entering the business world with Microsoft's new platform Skype for Business (SfB). Skype has made some great strides recently. Last week, updates for the original platform included modernizing its Skype Translator tool by adding Mandarin and Italian to its repertoire of languages. Microsoft's latest offering SfB is a completely separate system and is aims to take inter-office communication to the next level. Skype for Business will allow users to conference with up to 250 people. If your clients aren't using the new platform yet, the new conferencing system will be able to connect you with anyone using a phone or Internet connection.

Skype Translator, that wonderful science fiction-like tool that allows people to talk in real-time in two different languages, has been updated, and with that update it is now a little bit smarter. The software has gained knowledge of how to understand and speak Mandarin and Italian, opening it up to more users who want to chat with foreign speakers in their own native language. This joins the two languages the Preview software kicked off with, English and Spanish.